How is Deep Teeth Cleaning Performed?

As part of regular dental checkups, our dental staff performs a standard dental cleaning, also referred to as a prophy, to eliminate plaque and tartar from difficult-to-reach regions in your mouth. A traditional dental prophy is enough for most patients to remove the build up of dental calculus in the mouth. However, patients with periodontal disease require more than a regular dental cleaning. Natalie K. Provenzano DDS, Inc. in San Jose, California, offers deep dental cleaning to remove accumulated tartar in the pockets between your teeth and gums and treat gum disease, saving you from surgical interventions.

What is a deep dental cleaning?

Subgingival cleaning comprises two procedures: scaling and root planing. During scaling, the dentist uses a scaler to remove plaque and tartar on your teeth’ surface and below the gum line. Sometimes, your dentist can use an ultrasound scaler with a vibrating metal tip to dislodge stubborn tartar. Root planing is more of a rubbing motion to smooth out your tooth roots to prevent further bacterial growth and encourage your teeth to reattach to the gums.

What to expect during deep teeth cleaning

The procedure involves at least two dental appointments. The step-by-step procedures involve:

• Initial consultation: First, we must establish whether you have gum disease. Besides scrutinizing your symptoms, we diagnose you with gum infection using a dental probe. Typically, the space between your teeth and gums is three millimeters. If the depth exceeds this, it could indicate gum disease.
• First appointment: We perform a deep cleaning after numbing your gums to eliminate discomfort during treatment. Then, your hygienist uses a scaler or ultrasound device to dislodge plaque and tartar in the deep periodontal pockets. We then smooth out your tooth roots and may treat your gums with topical antibiotics if the infection is severe. After a deep cleaning, your gums will see improvement in the form of less bleeding and decreased swelling around the teeth. We will treat 1-2 quadrants of your mouth during the first visit.
• Second appointment: During your second visit, we measure your periodontal pockets to monitor the treatment progress from the first appointment. We will work on another 1-2 quadrants per visit, until we have completed the deep cleaning on all affected areas of the mouth. Depending on your results, we may recommend advanced treatments.

Good oral hygiene, including brushing, flossing, mouthwash, and regular dental cleanings, can reverse mild gingivitis. However, mild to moderate gum disease needs further intervention.

If you need deep teeth cleaning in San Jose, CA, please call (408) 226-2542 to book an appointment with Natalie K. Provenzano DDS, Inc. for quality care.

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